Tempted & Taken (Men of Haven #4)(81)
“Yep. We’ll be ready.” Knox squeezed Darya’s shoulders and had just reached around her to open the door for the couple when Ninette’s voice shot from the doorway of Beckett’s suite.
“You two be sure to let us know when you get to Haven.” Padding toward the kitchen on bare feet, Ninette had traded in the jeans and casual blouse she’d arrived in for yoga pants and an oversize T-shirt. Like Sylvie, who’d already set up camp on the huge sectional in front of the TV, her face was completely void of makeup, but glowing with a vitality most twenty-year-olds would envy. “And make sure Ruger and Max get free run of the house tonight. Max might only be able to bark the house down, but Ruger will tear the nuts off any stranger stupid enough to step foot in my house.”
Gabe snickered at that. “Yes, ma’am.”
Of all the surprises that had been thrown at Darya throughout the day, learning that both of Knox’s mothers had refused to return to their home in favor of keeping Darya company had been one of the most unexpected.
If you think we’re leaving her here with a trio of men overdosed on testosterone, you’re out of your damned mind.
As if she’d overheard Darya replaying the proclamation in her own head, Gabe winked and waggled her fingers in farewell over one shoulder. “Like I said, lots of love. Y’all have fun.”
Knox closed the door behind them and flipped the lock.
She’d barely turned, mouth open to ask Ninette who Ruger and Max were, when she found herself backed against the front door and a solid slab of delicious man pressed against her front.
His nose skimmed the side of hers and his breath whispered warm against her face, the air around them blazing fire pit hot in a second. “Zeke’s right. I know you’ve probably got a lot of questions, but I’m leaning toward loving you first and fielding anything verbal later.”
“Knox,” she whispered, her conscience all too aware of the microwave door latching into place and buttons beeping through the open loft behind them.
“Okay, scratch that.” He slipped his strong hands beneath the hem of her T-shirt, the low and grated rasp of his voice amplifying the sensual brush of his fingertips against her skin. “Verbal’s fine as long as it’s you saying my name just like that. Or begging.” He licked her lower lip and the carnal stroke echoed straight between her legs. “Fucking love the word please on your lips.”
Her sex fluttered and every nerve ending along her skin fired bright, all the worry and adrenaline she’d fought throughout the day tossed carelessly aside in favor of the need he’d created with just his presence and a string of sensual words.
“Knox, your mothers... I should—”
He sealed his mouth over hers, swallowing the rest of her words.
Her conscience demanded she push away. Even got so far as to brace the heels of her palms against his hard chest, but her body vetoed the idea and sunk into the kiss.
Sylvie’s semi-harassed voice cut from the living room. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, son. Standin’ up against a wall might be a fine display of yer strength and all, but it’s been a bear of a day fer the lass. Lay her down and let her take a load off, why don’t ye?”
Forehead pressed against hers, Knox huffed out a chuckle, but kept his body flush against hers. “You sure you don’t want to go to Haven, Ma? I doubt Zeke’s made it out of the parking lot yet.”
“And miss the antics around here?” The tone of her voice shifted, suggesting she’d turned her focus back to the television. “Not a chance. Besides, someone needs to teach the lass how ta keep the lot of ye in line. Might as well learn from the masters.”
Knox lifted his head. If he was the least bit put off by being coached and sassed by the mother figures in his life, his face didn’t show it. In fact, behind the still sparking intensity in his eyes was a wealth of barely contained laughter. He cupped the side of her face and skimmed his thumb along her lower lip. His eyes were locked on hers, but his words were for the other two women going about their business behind them. “You two need anything from us?”
Ninette scoffed, the indelicate sound punctuated by the microwave door slamming shut. About a second later, the buttery scent of popcorn filled the air. “Been fightin’ off assholes since before you were born, Knox. Get your girl where she needs to be. We’ll be fine.”
All the levity on his face disappeared, replaced with the pleasure of a hungry predator who’d just leaped the last barrier to its prey. He backed away and coiled his fingers around Darya’s wrist. “Yes, ma’am.”
Before she knew it, she was trailing behind him toward his loft, his strides unhurried but loaded with purpose.
“Ivan’s scans are in the system,” he said with eyes on Ninette and Sylvie. “He’ll be here in under thirty to watch the feeds while Beckett and Danny are out. Until then you see anything that tweaks you, you let me know.”
Bowlful of popcorn in hand, Ninette ambled to the couch and waved them both off. “Yeah, yeah. Go. I’d say have fun, but we already got the preview, so that’s kind of a moot point.”
Darya dug in her heels, determined to at least get in a proper goodnight. “Knox—”
He spun, dipped until his shoulder met her belly and hefted her up like a sack of potatoes.
Her surprised squeal rang out through the loft and mingled with Ninette’s and Sylvie’s laughter. Knox was just closing the door to his suite when Sylvie muttered, “Well, I guess that’s one way to get her off her feet.”